A look at Newtown

Updated 6:38 pm, Friday, December 14, 2012

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The quiet town of Newtown, Conn., has been propelled to national prominence by the horrific shooting that left 20 students dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Here's a look at the site of the tragedy.

Newtown by the numbers

Location: The town of Newtown occupies approximately 60 square miles of land in Fairfield County, in the southwestern portion of Connecticut. It is located 45 miles southwest of Hartford and 80 miles northeast of New York City.

Population: 27,560, according to the 2010 census.

Demographics:

94% white

40% of households are families with children under 18

Median household income was $101,937 as of 2007

History: Incorporated in 1711, Newtown was purchased from Native Americans in the area in 1705, and played host to French armies briefly when they camped there during the American Revolution.

The Village of Sandy Hook: Sandy Hook, home of Sandy Hook elementary school, is a village within Newtown. Founded in 1711, it was formed when residents of the initial Newtown settlement moved out from the central village to build saw and grist mills. It is located on the banks of the Housatonic River.